OWWA Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon clarifies some points raised in a Breaktime column of Mr. Conrado Banal III published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
22 June 2009
Mr. Conrad R. Banal III
Breaktime
Philipine Daily Inquirer
Dear Sir:
Your column of 15 June 2009, Banana vote, highlighted the role of the business sector in the recent repatriation of 150 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). It applauded the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and Bank of the Philippines Islands (BPI) for their participation in the “rescue mission.” Rightly so, for they helped bring home the distressed workers who, unfortunately, had left the country to seek work overseas without registering with POEA and OWWA.
You were curious why it was not OWWA who undertook the “rescue mission” when this was supposed to be its task. We would like to inform that OWWA is authorized by law to pay only for the repatriation costs of its member-workers. Given this legal restriction, we could only pay for the repatriation tickets of our members. However, we were at the airport to assist every repatriated worker, OWWA member or not, by providing inland transportation, temporary board and lodging, medical services, counseling etc.
The OWWA is blessed to have found partners like DBP, SMC and BPI. We know there are more Good Samaritans in the business sector and civic organizations and foundations who are ready to collaborate with the DOLE and OWWA in this undertaking which has been started by Department of Laborand Employment Sec. Marianito D. Roque.
Thank you very much and more power to you.
Sincerely yours,
CARMELITA S. DIMZON
Administrator , OWWA
For more information about OWWA, please visit
owwa.gov.ph
